Smart Dating Academy founder gives dating app tips ahead of Valentine's Day on 'Love Bytes'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- ABC7 Chicago's final "Love Bytes" segment aired Monday morning.

The segment ended on a classic: meeting people in real life.

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From sending the right first message to making that first date count, Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy, gave tips to keep things fun, safe and stress-free.

SEE MORE: Smart Dating Academy shares dating tips on 'Love Bytes' in lead-up to Valentine's Day

Message people when you connect with something in their profiles, she said. Make sure that you end messages with a question to keep the conversation going.

Gandhi is a huge fan of a video chat through a dating app. She said this is a must before meeting in real life.

Keep first dates short and sweet, less than two hours, she said.